Cosmetics research
A skincare ingredient checker should show uncertainty
Scanly's planned checker will normalize INCI names, identify applicable EU and US restrictions and link each material flag to its source. It is not live yet, and it will not call an unflagged ingredient universally safe when concentration or exposure is unknown.
Research checked September 7, 2026. This page provides general information and does not offer medical or dietary advice.
The proposed evidence stack
- Open Beauty Facts for barcode products, package images and ingredient lists.
- CosIng for canonical INCI names, functions and EU regulatory references.
- EU Cosmetics Regulation annexes for prohibited and restricted uses.
- SCCS opinions for ingredient- and exposure-specific scientific assessments.
- FDA rules for US prohibited, restricted and color-additive uses.
Why the product type matters
A leave-on cream, rinse-off cleanser, aerosol, lip product and eye-area product create different exposure questions. The same ingredient can have different permitted concentrations or warnings depending on use.
What an ingredient list cannot reveal
Labels generally put ingredients above 1% in descending order, while ingredients at or below 1% may appear in any order. Without the actual formulation, a checker should flag concentration-dependent uncertainty rather than invent a precise exposure estimate.
Questions, answered
Does an INCI name in CosIng mean the ingredient is approved?
No. The European Commission explicitly says CosIng is informative and that an ingredient's presence in the inventory does not mean it is approved for cosmetic use.
Can an ingredient checker determine whether a product is safe?
Not universally. Concentration, formulation, exposure route, frequency and the individual user can all matter.
Is the Scanly cosmetics checker available now?
No. It remains a beta-stage research product until the source register, product-context rules and qualified review process are complete.